Chapter 9: Facing Fears part 1

Robin looked over what was left of the dura-glass cell in the depth of Arkham Asylum. His eyes narrowed on the engraved name-plate lying on the floor.

Crane, Jonathan

"Robin?" Batman called and the blond headed teen stood and walked to where the Dark Knight was hunched over a broken piece of glass.

"What do you think did this?" Batman asked, stepping away from the broken cell.

Robin looked over the broken pieces on the floor and the remaining wall. "It looks like it was weakened by some type of acid … then was struck by a hard object …" Robin then picked up a broken piece of dura-glass. He ran his gloved finger over the top and removed what looked like a piece of thread, "Looks like a cloth … no leather covered object struck it."

"Who?" Batman pressed.

Robin stood up and thought for a moment. "Unless we have a new one or a copy cat," He started before snapping his eyes open in realization, "Harley Quinn, her trademark is that punching glove gun."

"That would be my guess," Batman stated, turning his back and starting down the hall. "Let's go."

Robin hopped into the passenger seat of the Batmobile as Batman fired the engine and roared down the drive of the newly rebuilt asylum.

"Who's this Josh?" Batman asked as they pulled out on the main road.

"What?" Robin asked in surprise. "Who?"

"Mankey, Joshua." Batman stated, "3.98 GPA, top 20 graduates of Middleton High, captain of the Basketball team and president of the art club, awarded with a scholarship to Upperton University with the art and basketball programs. Who is he?"

"Why do you want to know?" Robin blinked, wondering what could have possibly brought this on.

"Just … curious …" Batman stated, not taking his eyes off the road.

"You're never just curious, Batman," Robin asked, narrowing his eyes, "What's he done?"

"Nothing … yet," Batman stated in his usual tone, though dropping the 'yet' under his breath. "Have he and Kim been intimate?" he asked, causing Robin to go into coughing fits.

"How am I supposed to know?" Robin gasped, staring at Batman as if he had grown a second head.

"You're Kim's best friend, if anyone would know it's you." Batman stated, his tone icier than usual.

"Bruce, what's with you?" Robin sat back, shaking his head, "You're acting like Mr. Dr. P. during and after one of Kim's dates. But I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised either way. Kim … really loves Josh." Robin said, the last bit said with a hint of sadness.

"Is that a problem?"

"No, unless he hurts her," Robin said, his voice dropping back into full 'bat-mode'. "Then I hurt him."

"You'll have to get in line," Batman said under his breath as he hit the accelerator.

Kim sighed as she brushed her hair, staring at her reflection in the large mirror in her room at Wayne Manor. "Want to talk about it?" a voice called from the doorway of the room. Kim turned and the breath caught in her throat at the sight.

Wonder Woman stood leaning against the door. Her golden lasso and tiara shimmered in the light and her tight swimsuit-like uniform clung to her figure showing off her curves as well as her defined muscles. Kim couldn't believe the woman she had looked up to and idolized since she was ten was talking to her as if she was a friend.

"Hi, W-Wonder Woman," Kim gulped out.

"Kimmie, I've asked you repeatedly to call me Diana," Wonder Woman smiled as she walked in and sat down on Kim's bed.

"O-OK …" Kim stuttered, "J-just not used to you in uniform. It makes it more … ya know … real … or unreal … or maybe … I'll shut up now."

"Just finished a job with the Justice League and needed to speak to Batman about a case," the Amazon said, stretching her arms over her head.

"Then why are you here?" Kim asked in confusion.

Wonder Woman's eyes widened for a moment and hissed under her breath before glancing back up at the girl, "Oh, just thought I'd visit my boyfriend before I tried to find the Bat."

"Oh ok," Kim accepted her excuse.

"I can go change if me being in uniform makes you uncomfortable," Diana said, changing the subject before Kim asked anymore questions.

"No, it's ok," Kim waved her hand shyly, "Just, not used to being around my childhood hero."

"Childhood hero, you make me feel old," Diana smiled teasingly, "Still not used to being anyone's hero. It feels like just yesterday I was leaving Themyscira to represent the Amazons in Man's World. " Diana shook her head, bringing herself out of her thoughts, "So ready for your big double date tonight?"

"A little nervous actually," Kim confessed, bowing her head.

"Cassie can be a little overbearing, but she has a good heart," Diana smiled warmly.

"Not as much that," Kim sighed, "It's … I'm not sure how to take Ron … with a girl."

"Green eyed monster," Diana smiled knowingly.

"I'm not jealous of Cassie!" Kim said quickly, looking back at her own reflection to finish brushing her hair.

"Ahuh, sure," Diana smiled, "And Batman is good at birthday parties." Diana stood up and started toward the door, "I'll go and check and see if Bruce and Ron have gotten in from work yet." She said as she walked out and closed the door behind her.

Diana glanced around to make sure Kim hadn't followed and opened the hidden door behind the clock. As she started to descend down into the BatCave, she was taken aback to the sound of Ron shouting.

"What do you mean I can't go spend just a couple weeks in Middleton?" Ron screamed. Diana finally turned on the stair way to see Ron just in his uniform pants and his undershirt, and in Batman's cold, masked face.

"You are still in training, Robin," Batman stated emotionlessly, "You can't miss that much training."

"I'm not a heartless machine like you, Bruce," Ron shot, jabbing his finger into the Bat symbol on Batman's chest. "Give me one reason why I should listen to you and stay here instead of enjoying time with my best friend?"

"I'll give you two," Batman stated, letting his face lower to Ron's, making sure he got this perfectly clear. "One: What would happen should later she needs you're protection." He stated, then narrowed his eyes, "And two: you're not ready. Interrupting your training now adds to the likelihood Kim Possible will soon open the morning paper and see on the front page Robin, also known as Ron Stoppable, was killed trying to halt a robbery last night … do you want that, Ron?"

Ron glared at the Dark Knight for several more seconds before turning his back, "Fine, you win. Happy?" he said, stomping toward the showers.

"Are you?" Diana asked once she heard the shower start up.

Batman said nothing but turned to the computer, and began punching in the updated info on the Scarecrow case.

"Bruce, what's wrong?" Diana asked standing behind him, "This isn't like you. You weren't half this hard on Dick, Tim, Jason, or even Stephanie. Why are you so hard on Ron?"

"Why are you still here tonight?" Bruce asked coldly.

"Don't," Diana snapped as she spun his chair around and glared at him. "I know that ploy, Wayne, the 'piss em off and they'll leave you alone' won't work on me, so don't even try."

"I …" Batman started, but was silenced by Diana's palm.

"Truth or lasso, your choice," She stated, amplifying the threat with narrowed eyes.

"Fine," Batman said, standing up and moving to the edge of the cliff of the computer platform, "There's a difference between Ron and the others, a major one."

"And that is?" Diana pressed.

"The difference is," Batman started, watching a group of bats fly through the deep cave, "I'm not training a Robin this time." He then turned pulling back the cowl, "I'm training a Batman."

The walls of Global Justice Head Quarters were redecorated to take the appearance of a fun house as Jonathan Crane walked through the multi-colored halls dressed as a gothic scarecrow with the giggling humming Harley Quinn. "Interesting place," the Scarecrow said, glancing around at the strange surroundings.

"I did the decorating all by my lonesome!" Quinn stated happily and proudly.

"Never would have guessed …" he said as they reached the head office, which door was made up as a massive clown's head.

Harley opened the door, and Scarecrow walked in to find The Joker in Dr Director's command chair and the speaker phone ringing. The insane clown held a finger to his lips to tell the newcomers to be quiet. Finally someone picked up.

"Hello, Possible residence, Jim Possible speaking!" a child's voice spoke on the other end.

"Hey, Jimmy, do you love your sister?" Joker giggled.

"Um … yeah, she's my sister, why? Who is this?"

"YOU SICKO! DON'T YOU KNOW INCEST IS WRONG!" Joker screamed, before ending the call, and started laughing manically. "Incest! HAHAH! I kill myself … hehe … oh, sorry, Scarecrow, forgive my manners."

"What do you want, Joker?" Scarecrow asked, not taking his eyes off the madman.

"Just need you to play defense for me, if you don't mind." Joker grinned.

"What are you talking about?" Scarecrow asked crossing his arms.

"Let me show you my plans," Joker said before pressing a button on his desk, "Dr. Director, Agent Du, report to my office, ASAP please."

The side door open and an ungodly stench filled the room, making Scarecrow gag and in walked in Dr. Director and Agent Will Du's pale, yet grinning bodies, with a large metal antenna sticking out of the back of their skulls. "What the …" Scarecrow gawked.

"Ya know, Global Justice is a crazy and sadistic as we are," Joker pointed to his two 'servants'. "Those little gizmos implanted in the back of corpses' skulls and it reanimates them as living … err... not living, obedient slaves. Great for soldiers, just a tad smelly." Joker then snapped his fingers, "Anyway, Betty Boops, do give Dr. Crane the folder if you please."

The corpse of Dr. Director handed Scarecrow a folder, and the scientist blinked in surprise. "What the heck is this?" Scarecrow asked holding up a handful of pictures of Kim Possible, her family, and her friends.

"That, my itchy costumed friend, is what I like to call 'fresh meat'!" Joker chuckled.

"Has the Bat hit you on the head again?" Scarecrow asked, glancing back at the folder of papers.

"No, nononono!" Joker chimed, jumping up on the desk, "Kim Possible, the Girl Who Can Do It All … or something like that, she's on the bright and shiny road to be the next Wonder Woman, Batman, or any of those other costumed goodie-goodies who like to give us migraines! But she's not there yet, she's still got a good long while to get there, so I thought … 'Joker', I thought, 'Here's a girl who will probably give you an ass load of problems in the future, so why don't ya just go ahead and make her life hell then finish her off before she hits her hero prime', so I responded with, 'Sure! Sounds like fun'! Get it, Johnny Boy?"

"You're insane, but I was already aware of that," Scarecrow stated, "And it makes sense, cut the roots so to speak. What do you want me to do?"

"Simple, I've done my own little investigation, and Bruce Wayne is suspected of funding Ol' Pointy Ears," Joker grinned.

"And?"

"I want you to keep the Bat and the Bird occupied," Joker chuckled, "That way Brucie can't set his pet Bat on us for screwing with the fruit of his loins!"

"I can't believe we're eating in such a nice place," Kim said in awe as Ron led her, Josh, and Cassie into the Iceberg Lounge.

"Just gotta watch out for the penguins," Ron warned as they approached the front desk of the club, "They really bite… too late…" Ron added the last under his breath, earning a slap in the arm by Cassie.

"Ah, Mr. Stoppable, pleasure to have you joining us again," a short chubby man with a long, pointed nose, and dressed in an incredibly fancy tuxedo said approaching the four. "How are things going at Wayne Enterprises? Well, I trust."

"Oswald, you know Cassandra, and this is my old friend from Middleton, Kim Possible, and her boyfriend, Josh Mankey," Ron introduced, "Kim, Josh, this is Oswald Cobblepot."

"THE Kim Possible," Oswald smiled, taking Kim's hand and kissing the back of it, "It is an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance at long last. I have expected meeting you ever since Mr. Stoppable took residence in our fair metropolis."

"Um … nice to meet you, Mr. Cobblepot …" Kim said, biting her lower lip in thought before her eyes widened in realization, "I know who you are, you're The-" Kim started, but was silenced when Ron clamped a hand over her mouth.

"We'll take a table for four please, Oswald," Ron said quickly.

"But, of course," Oswald nodded, "Right this way."

The group was seated at a round table beside the penguin tank, and once Mr. Cobblepot waddled away, Kim turned to Ron, "What was that about?"

"Penguin is a bit touchy about his past," Cassie said, glancing over the menu.

"I guess I'll buy that," Kim nodded, glancing at her own menu, "Tonight: fine dinning of the Iceberg Lounge in Gotham City, tomorrow night: Bueno Nacho in Middleton. Bet you can't wait, Ron … wait, Iceberg Lounge has Nacos too?"

"Yeah, Mr. Cobblepot liked it and rented out a sub license to serve it, as for at the Bueno Nacho tomorrow …" Ron averted his gaze to his menu, "You and Josh are going to have to go it without me. I have to stay here."

"W-What? You're not coming home?" Kim said disappointedly.

"He is home, Kimmie," Cassie spoke up, "Ron's a busy guy, you can't expect to hog him and have time for your boyfriend too."

"I wouldn't 'hog' him anyway, he's MY best friend for the majority of my life," Kim spat, "And since when has this been any of your business?"

"Well, Ron is MY boyfriend," Cassie responded just as heatedly, "And I'm not the one who pushed him to a city on the other side of the country for popularity sake."

"Excuse me?" Kim asked, her eyebrows almost going into her hairline.

"I didn't stutter, Red," Cassie snapped, "Ron talked about you like you were some damn goddess while you treated him like he was some kind of disposable toy. Why he stayed friends with a shallow bitch like you I'll never know!"

"Cool off, will you?" Kim growled, splashing her glass of water in Cassie's face, "Don't talk about things you don't know about!"

Cassie's mouth opened and closed like a gold fish, and then the two girls locked eyes in a hate-filled glare, not noticing their respective boyfriends moving away very slowly.

"Shouldn't you stop this?" Josh whispered to Ron.

"I'd be safer trying to get inbetween Spider-Man and Venom …" Ron stated, as they eased away.

"What's the matter, Kim Possible can do anything but accept the truth?" Cassie snapped, rising to her feet.

"Coming from a girl who pretends to be a real hero? Ha! Not a bad joke!" Kim spat, standing up too.

"What the hell did you mean by that?" Cassie growled, narrowing her eyes.

"Do I have to spell it out for you, Wonder Woman?" Kim said, then blinked at herself, "Oh wait, Wonder Girl, not like you'll ever live up to the REAL Wonder Woman."

That did the trick. Cassie dove across the table, tackling Kim through the next table.

Kim kicked back away from the girl and threw a punch at her face, knocking the girl back two steps.

Ron pulled out a small communicator from his pocket, "Oracle? Get Diana and tell her to get to the Iceberg Lounge NOW, and DON'T tell Batman!"

"That all you're going to do?" Josh asked as the sound of another table being smashed was heard behind them.

"Yeah," Ron smirked, "That's all I'm going to do …"

"I have to admit, you're pretty good," Cassie said, wiping a bit of blood from her busted lip. "But if I had my bracelets and lasso I'd …"

"Get your ass kicked like you are now?" Kim finished for her, trying to hide her own heavy breathing.

"Wonder Girl! Possible!" Robin snapped, landing on the guard rail around the Penguin tank, "That's enough!"

"Stay out of this, Robin," Cassie snapped, narrowing her eyes on Kim, "This is between us."

"You're endangering those in this club," Robin growled, "Stop it now, or I'll stop it for you."

"Yeah, and the Blondie's going down!" Kim yelled, diving at the girl who caught her and threw her into the crouching Boy Wonder, sending both teen heroes into the icy water.

"Oh, Robin! I'm sorry!" Cassie apologized as the skylight exploded and Batman and Wonder Woman descended into the destroyed club.

"I told her not to tell him!" Robin hissed under his breath as he climbed out of the tank and helped Kim up.

"I WON'T GO BACK!" Cobblepot yelled reaching under his desk, "I'VE PLAYED THE GOOD CITIZEN ROLE. I'VE BEEN A GOOD LITTLE BIRD. I WON'T LET YOU SEND ME BACK TO ARKHAM!" He screamed, pulling out a Tommy gun.

Batman tackled Cassie behind an overturned table as the on again off again villain began shooting up his own club in the direction of the small gathering of heroes.

"He's got to be stopped!" Kim said, watching the Penguin shoot where Batman was crouched.

"I'll get him low and you get him high," Robin said in a low voice as he stood up.

Kim nodded and the former Team Possible dashed toward the raving crime lord.

Robin threw a batarang, knocking the Penguin's gun from his hands followed by a bola wrapping his legs together at the knees. In his surprise, he never noticed Kim moving through the air for a flying kick to his face until it was too late. Kim's heel hit him right between the eyes, sending the partially bound man tumbling to the floor.

"Good hit," Robin said, glancing down at the KO'ed Cobblepot.

"T-Thanks …" Kim shivered, rubbing her dripping wet arms.

"Dang, you knocked him clear out!" Wonder Girl said, floating toward the two. "That was a nice kick."

"It was no b-big …" Kim nodded.

"Kim … about some of the things I said …" Cassie said, turning her attention to the Penguin laid out on the floor, "I didn't mean …everything I said."

"I didn't mean everything either …" Kim replied. "And you have a pretty good right cross."

"You got the kicking power of a mule yourself." Cassie smiled.

"Ahem." A dark voice cleared behind them, and all three, Cassie, Kim, and Robin, flinched.

The three turned to meet Batman with his cloak wrapped around him and Wonder Woman with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Um … Batman …" Cassie started nervously.

"Wonder Woman will escort you out of Gotham, but I'll give you one more chance. If you cause trouble in my town again, you'll be greeted with a very cold reception for the rest of your natural life. Understood?" Batman snapped emotionlessly.

"Y-Yes sir …" Cassie nodded fearfully.

"Good." Batman growled, before turning to the Boy Wonder, "Robin, take the car and take Possible and Mankey back to where they're staying." Kim looked down, waiting to be chewed out. She jumped when she felt something warm drape over her shoulders. She glanced down to see Batman's cloak wrapped around her shoulders. "That will keep you warm till you can get a change of clothes. It's an insulated polymer so it will keep you from getting pneumonia. You're improving." Batman said before turning around and firing a grappling hook out of the large window.

"Batman … likes you …" Cassie said in surprise as she, Josh, and Robin all stared at Kim.

"Come on, Cass," Wonder Woman said, "We have to … pick up Ron on the way out too and drop him off at the Manor."

"Um … right," Cassie said, giving Robin a glance, "sorry about ruining the double date, Kim, Josh …"

Kim watched the two women fly out the shattered skyline, and jumped when she felt someone grabbed the garment over her shoulders. "Wow … the Batman's cape …" Josh said in awe, feeling of the tough, heavy fabric.

"That's 'cloak'," Robin stated, turning his back and walking toward the exit. "Come on."

Kim and Josh followed the Boy Wonder into the back alley and gawked at the vehicle parked there. It looked like a cross between a dragster and a tank. The car was covered in jet black armor and spotlights placed on the top and front sections of the automobile. The front tires were small and close together, while the back ones were large, tractor-type tires, two on either side of a large thruster.

"Damn, this is some wheels," Josh drooled over the tank-like vehicle. "Is this the Batmobile?"

"That's what the press calls it," Robin said as he pressed a button on his belt, causing the 'cockpit' to slide open. "We usually just call it the car."

Kim crawled into the single, yet tight back seat of the massive vehicle, followed by Josh taking shotgun. "Buckle up," Robin said as the canopy slid back, and the Batmobile roared to life.

Kim tossed and turned in her large feather bed in her guest room of Wayne Manor. She glanced at the digital clock on the night table, 2:15 AM. "Why can't I sleep …" Kim sighed, climbing out of her bed, deciding to take a small walk through Wayne Manor.

Kim walked out of her bedroom and started walking down the halls of the large mansion. "This place is creepy at night …" Kim whispered, hugging herself.

As she passed Ron's bedroom, she heard the sound of whimpering from the inside. She started to keep walking, but a worried feeling in her gut made her take a peek inside. What she saw jarred her to the core.

Ron was trashing and writhing in his bed, whimpering and murmuring, slowly getting louder and louder. Kim had known Ron all her life, and never once had she seen him in this state.

"Ron, Ron, wake up," Kim said, moving to his bedside. She reached across him and gripped his shoulders, "Ron it's just a dream, wake up …" she said a little louder.

Ron's eyes suddenly snapped open, and before Kim could respond, Ron sat up and brought his hands around her throat, cutting off her air and blood circulation.

Kim's eyes widened in horror at the emptiness she saw in Ron's brown eyes, realizing he wasn't yet awake. She tried to pry his fingers from her neck, but his grip was like a vise. "Ron … snap … out of it …" Kim forced out, struggling for breath.

Kim could feel her head getting lighter from lack of oxygen, and, on instinct, reached out and brushed her palm across Ron's cheek, gently stroking his face.

This simple touch caused the life to rush into the teen's eyes once again, and they widened when he realized what he was doing. "KP!" Ron gasped, letting go, watching her cough and hold her neck. "Oh god, Kim, I'm sorry! Are you ok?"

"Yeah … Yeah, I'm fine now, Ron," Kim gasped, "Are you ok?"

"I'm not the one who almost got strangled to death," Ron said, worry, guilt, and that same hidden something flashing in his eyes.

"That must have been some nightmare," Kim said changing the subject.

"Just a dream," Ron said coldly.

"Want to talk about it?" Kim asked gently.

"I SAID IT WAS JUST A DREAM!" Ron snapped, but winced when he saw the hurt in his best friend's eyes.

"I'm sorry, KP," Ron apologized, looking away from her, "We have to get you and Josh to the airport pretty early. So you better get to bed. Night, Kim." He said coldly, laying down and turning his back on her.

"Oh … ok … night Ron …" Kim said dejectedly and walked out closing the door. She stood outside his room for a moment before leaning her back against the door. It made sense now … what he was hiding … why he lied to her … how he reacted to her waking from his dream … it all made sense …

"He blames me …"

To Be Continued …

C. Cowboy: sorry for the long wait, college is in full swing so it's slowing my writing down a bit. but expect more as soon as I can get it